Buyer: Be Aware

As seductive as VOIP might seem, you need only consider if your company can adopt it seamlessly, and if its long-range benefits are unmistakable. VOIP can require a significant up-front investment before it begins paying dividends, and it’s not strictly a plug -and-play technology. For instance, not all data networks can carry the high-quality voice transmissions needed to make a VOIP system worthwhile. According to technology consultancy Gartner, Inc., 85 percent of in-use router-based data networks aren’t ready for successful voice deployment.

“The key is to leverage VOIP’s benefits without experiencing a high level of disruption,” Devine says. “This means developing a strategy of implementation that migrates current applications and platforms over to new technologies at a pace that allows the least disruption possible.”

Dollars and Cents

Some business owners see periodic phone upgrades as part of the cost of staying competitive.

“Industry time frames show people purchasing more frequently,” says Stanoch. “Much of the activity is tied to the opportunity to employ technology like faster Internet access and integrated voice and data services.”

According to Lasky and Agar, a digital-key phone system should start at about $400 per station, while a company-wide VOIP system will cost at least $1,600 to set up.

“Depending on the situation, the return on investment typically is very good,” says Lasky. “The savings on remote locations can be very significant.”

Agar agrees that most companies should certainly see a return on investment for their new phone system before it’s been in place for a year. In addition, if you do your homework beforehand, the installation and implementation of a new phone system shouldn’t be too traumatic.

“Once the decision has been made to install, generally the process takes less than 30 days, including ordering of circuits from the service provider,” says Lasky.

“It depends on the level of integration with the current infrastructure, but much of the work can be done off site, prior to the install, so that the actual on-site implementation time is shorter,” says Agar. “This keeps install costs down, and allows your provider to work more cost-effectively.”